Atlanta -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain told supporters Saturday that he is suspending his presidential campaign , which has become hobbled in recent weeks by allegations of sexual harassment and an Atlanta woman 's claim that they carried on a 13-year affair .

While he will still be able to raise and spend campaign funds because he did not officially drop out , Cain 's White House bid is effectively over .

Cain said he came to the decision after assessing the impact that the allegations were having on his wife , his family and his supporters .

Cain and his wife , Gloria , held hands as they walked up to the podium where Cain made his remarks in Atlanta . The crowd chanted , `` Gloria ! Gloria ! '' before the candidate spoke .

Even as he stepped aside under the weight of the allegations that have dogged him , Cain said that he was at `` peace with my God '' and `` peace with my wife . ''

He repeatedly called the allegations `` false and untrue , '' and added that `` the -LRB- media -RRB- spin hurts . ''

`` I am not going to be silenced and I will not go away , '' Cain said , announcing what he called his Plan B : A website , TheCainSolutions.com , through which he will continue to advocate for his platform .

His catchy `` 9-9-9 '' economic plan is not going anywhere , he said .

`` Your support has been unwavering and undying , '' Cain told his supporters .

He will endorse another of the Republican presidential hopefuls soon , he said .

Other candidates were quick to react .

`` Herman Cain provided an important voice to this process , '' Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann said in a statement . `` His ideas and energy generated tremendous enthusiasm for the conservative movement at a time it was so desperately needed to restore confidence in our country . ''

Fellow Georgian Newt Gingrich said the `` 9-9-9 '' plan `` got our country talking about the critical issue of how to reform our tax code and he elevated the dialogue of the Republican presidential primary in the process . ''

Texas Gov. Rick Perry said he knew the Cains made a `` difficult decision . He helped invigorate conservative voters and our nation with a discussion of major tax reform . ''

Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman said Cain brought `` a unique and valuable voice to the debate over how to reform our country 's uncompetitive tax code and turn around the economy . I understand his decision and wish him and his family the best . ''

Recently , Cain acknowledged that Ginger White 's allegations of an affair have led to a drop in campaign contributions , and a Des Moines Register poll showed his support among likely Republican Iowa caucus-goers has fallen to 8 % , down from 23 % in October . The poll has a sampling error of plus or minus 4.9 points , the newspaper said .

Respondents said they were most concerned that Cain does not understand important issues , but said the allegations against him contribute to their concern , the newspaper said .

This week , White told the news media that she and Cain engaged in an on-and-off affair for more than 13 years . She described the affair as `` very casual . ''

White issued a statement , through her attorney , after Cain 's announcement Saturday .

`` Ginger White respects Mr. Cain 's decision regarding his campaign and indeed would have respected any decision he made , '' the statement said . `` That being said , she is disappointed that he has not apologized for the public statements he has made about her and other women who have spoken out . ''

In a fund-raising letter Tuesday night , Cain referred to White as `` troubled . ''

Two women -- Sharon Bialek and Karen Kraushaar -- previously accused Cain of sexually harassing them in the 1990s while he was head of the National Restaurant Association . Two other women also have said Cain sexually harassed them while they worked at the association , but they have declined to be identified .

Cain told the Union Leader in New Hampshire that he repeatedly gave White money to help her with `` month-to-month bills and expenses . '' But he denied the relationship was sexual , as White contends . He said the two were friends .

`` I send checks to a lot of people ; I help a lot of people , '' Cain told Fox News on Thursday . `` That in itself is not proof . So the other allegation in terms of it being a 13-year physical relationship , that is her words against my word . ''

In the interview , Cain said his wife , knew nothing about White nor his financial support for her until the mother of two came forward last week .

`` My wife now knows , '' he told the newspaper . `` My wife and I have talked about it , and I have explained it to her . My wife understands that I 'm a soft-hearted , giving person . ''

Cain 's announcement came a month before the Iowa caucuses , the first formal test of the primary season , scheduled for January 3 .

New Hampshire Republican officials who supported Cain began to survey their options Saturday , with several state representatives saying their support could go to Gingrich or Ron Paul . Cain 's most prominent supporter in the state , former GOP state party chair Jack Kimball , said he would wait to learn who Cain would endorse before making his own decision .

Cain told staffers earlier this week he was reassessing his campaign in the wake of White 's allegation of an affair , and he acknowledged to reporters Wednesday that her account had led to a drop in contributions to his campaign .

He said in the Thursday Union Leader interview that his wife 's feelings , as well as the reaction from supporters and donors , would be important factors in deciding whether he will stay the race .

Cain told the newspaper he would drop out of the race if his wife asked him to , but quickly added that she would n't .

Though Gloria Cain rarely makes public appearances or statements , she told Fox News last month that she believed the sexual harassment allegations were `` unfounded . ''

CNN 's Rachel Streitfeld contributed to this report .

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NEW : Woman who alleges an affair with Cain wants an apology

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Cain will endorse another candidate soon

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Cain 's Iowa support fell to single digits , the Des Moines Register reports

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Candidate was dogged by allegations of sexual harassment and an affair